Criteria for PSL player of the season questioned after Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Teboho Mokoena win award

Orlando Pirates assistant coach Mandla Ncikazi has questioned the criteria used to vote for the PSL Footballer of the Season award.

This comes after Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Teboho Mokoena was crowned the Footballer of the Season for the 2022/23 DStv Premiership season.

The ex-SuperSport United man won the prestigious award. Mokoena beat Orlando Pirates hot property Monnapule Saleng and his fellow teammate Ronwen Williams to the award.

In an interview on Ukhozi FM on Monday night, Ncikazi noted that judges must explain the criteria used to vote for the Footballer of the Season.

The Bucs assistant coach further stated that everyone can see that Mokoena has been exceptional this campaign. However, judges must explain the metrics.

“Teboho Mokoena’s work is there for everyone to see. I don’t want it to look like Pirates are against the success of Sundowns,” said Ncikazi.

“However, according to me, the judges should clearly explain the things they use to choose these players.

“For example, if people see that Saleng has 11 goals and eight assists in the league but his counterpart [Mokoena] has one goal and one assist, so they must explain which criteria or metrics that they use that we don’t know, which made Mokoena be above Saleng, the problem is with the judges.

“I know Sibisi has how many Man of the Match Awards and Saleng and Mokoena. But the judges should show us why.”

The former Golden Arrows mentor, Ncikazi, went on to put it on record that he has no problem with Sundowns players.

“I don’t have a problem with sundowns players being successful. This is a competition where others should succeed and others don’t,” he added.